Authentic Lemon Rice / Nimmakaya Pulihora (Stove Top, Instant Pot)
Lemon Pulihora, a South Indian style, traditional festive rice recipe which is Vegan, Plant Based, Gluten free, Quick & Easy to make. Gave both Stove Top & Instant pot pressure cooker methods with step wise pics.
Equipment
- Sauce Pan / Vessel (for stove-top method)
- Instant Pot or Electric Pressure Cooker (for IP method)
Ingredients
- 2 cups Rice (Cooked with 2 cups of rice grains)
- as required Water
- ¼ cup Cooking Oil
- 2½ teaspoons Salt (or as per taste)
- ¼ cup Lemon / Lime Juice
- 1 teaspoon Tumeric Powder
- 6 count Fresh Green Chillies (slit length wise)
- 10 count Curry Leaves
Ingredients for Tempering:
- 1½ teaspoon Urad dal / Minapappu / Split Black gram
- 1 teaspoon Mustard seeds / Aavalu
- 1½ teaspoon Chana dal / Split Yellow gram dal
- ½ teaspoon Jeera / Cumin Seeds
- 1 teaspoon Sesame Seeds / Til
- 4 count Dry Red Chillies
- ½ teaspoon Hing / Inguva / Asafoetida
- 3 tablespoons Ground Nuts / Peanuts / Palli
Instructions
PREP WORK (common for both methods):
- Get the Rice cooked and keep it ready. Here is my detailed post about cooking perfect Basmati rice >> How to cook rice perfectly (Instant Pot, Stove top)If the rice is just cooked, spread it on a plate for at least 5 mins, to make it warm & reduce the wetness. So that the lemon rice wouldn’t turn sticky.If you are using already cooked & cold rice, skip the above step.
STOVE TOP METHOD LEMON RICE:
- Put a sauce pan / frying pan on stove top under medium flame. Add oil & let it heat. Immeditaley add all the items under 'Ingredients for tempering' and turmeric powder. Saute them until the pulses turn light brown.
- Into the same pan, add the slit green chillies and curry leaves. Give a stir.
- Transfer the cooked rice into the pan, gently mix up everything. Now, switch the stove off, add the salt & lemon juice. Give a thorough mix.
- Transfer the lemon rice / nimmakaya pulihora, into a serving dish. Done!
INSTANT POT METHOD LEMON RICE:
- Switch the Gadget ON, set to SAUTE mode, for 5 mins. Add Oil & let it heat. Immediately add all the 'Ingredients for temering', saute them by stirring continuously.
- Select the CANCEL button, transfer all of the tempering into a separate plate.
- Optional step to cook rice: In the same pot, transfer the soaked rice (drain the soaked water) into the pot. Add fresh water (1 rice:1¼ water ratio) as per measurement. Close the lid, set the VALVE to SEALING, mode to PRESSURE COOK, under LOW PRESSURE for 5 mins.
- Later release the pressure naturally only (NPR). Transfer all the 'tempering' into the pot. Into the Instant pot add>>> the turmeric powder, salt, lemon juice and remaining slit green chillies, curry leaves.If you are using already cooked cold rice, continue with SAUTE mode until the rice warms up.
- Gently mix up everything. Switch the gadget OFF. Transfer into a serving dish. Done!!
Notes
Please see the MAIN POST for recipe with step wise PICS & TIPS!